Pyrotechnical device



M. M. ADLER' PYRO'I'ECHNICAL DEVICE Filed 0a. 11, 1923 IN V EN TOR. aw L a Fatented Feb. 10, 1%25.

MILTON M. ADLER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

PYROTECHNICAL DEVICE.

Application filed October 11, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON M. ADLER, a. citizen of the United States, residing at- Newark, in the county of Essex and State New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pyrotechnical Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in pyrotechnical devices; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to an improved pyrotechnical device in the form of a novel det-onating firework or fire-cracker.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a detonating firework or firecracker comprising a main disc-like body, tablet or lozenge made of a pyrotechnical composition, said body, tablet or lozenge having applied thereto a surface covering in adhering relation thereto consisting of asuitable insoluble material in granular or cornminuted form.

It has been found that pyrotechnical devices of the general character involved in this invention and made from a pyrotechnical composition containing phosphorus and potassium chlorate, by reason of the disc-like or lozenge shape in which they are generally formed, have frequently been mistaken by children for candy or because of their candy-like appearance have tempted small children to place the same in their months, so that illness and sometimes serious poisoning has resulted. In order to avoid such consequences, and to render the devices harmless even if taken into the month, while at the same time so altering the general appearance of the device that likelihood of mistaking the same for an article of confection is practically avoided, I have discovered that a granular or comminuted insoluble coating adhesively secured to the surface of the article is very effective; in the first place, because being insoluble the coating prevents the saliva of the mouth from attacking or dissolving the deleterious ingredients of the composition; in the second place, because the roughened character imparted to the sur- Serial No. 667,816.

face of the device by the insoluble granular or comminuted covering material renders the same uncomfortable when placed in the mouth; and in the third place because the granular or comminuted covering so changes the appearance of the article that mistakes of the kind referred to are not likely to be made by children.

Another advantage of the novel granular or comminuted coating with which this invention deals, is that the same provides aprotective covering for the pyrotechnical composition which shields the same from the effects of ordinary friction produced by one device rubbing upon another when in packages, during transit in shipping, or when displayed for sale and handled, and yet the coating is of such character that an intentionally applied strong friction will wear away the coating so that the inner composition will be quickly exposed to the elfects of such strong friction and will consequently readily ignite when such resultis desired, and, furthermore, the granular or comminuted coating will not interfere with or prevent desired ignition of the inner composition produced by striking the device a sharp blow, since the effect of a blow of sufiicient force will be readily transmitted through the coating to the composition; and, finally, the coating is of such character that it will prevent undue or too sudden disruption or flying apart of the device after ignition.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the pyrotechnical device provided with the novel insoluble granular or comminuted coating; Fig. 2 is a side or edge view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the same.

The pyrotechnical composition for obtaining the desired intermittent detonating effects characteristic of the kind of fire-work or fire-cracker involved in this invention, is preferably one in which white phosphorus and potassium chlorate are the combustible and explosive ingredients, said substances being intimately mixed with carbonate of magnesium and red ochre to form a body in which the aforesaid combustible and explosive elements are distributed, a suitable binder such as gum arabic being employed to hold together and hardenthe mass. The composition is formed into-disc-like bodies, tablets or lozenges a which when dried and hardened, may be ignited by either friction or impact, andwhich When thus ignited are slow burning but adapted to produce during combustion a series of intermittent detonaandrsoas. to cover the. entire areaof said surface, afcoverin-g orv coating Z) comprising aLsiiitable insoluble granular or comminuted material, such, e. g., as sand, saw-dust, metal filings, mineral shiftings or tlielike. This coating maybe applied tothe bodie'sa While the sameare still somewhat soft so as to, be

7 slightlyimbeddedin the surface. thereof and adhesively attached thereto, and I also deem itlexpedient to mix with the coating material at suitable.v adhesive material such as, dextrine, gum arabic or the, like, whereby not only-the. adhesionof the particles of granii laror comminutedvmaterial .to the body a is assured, but also. the granular or small particles themselves ,Wlll be caused to adhere together to'provide a substantially permanent--,-coating which eificiently resists aecidental displacement, While, however, readily displacing itself under the effects of a comparatively strong friction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim I 1.. A 'pyroteclinical device comprising a body of pyrotechnical composition coated with an'insoluble granular material in direct adhesive attachment to the surfaces of said body.

2. A pyi-otechiiical device comprising a body of combustible detonating composition having its entiresurface covered with an insoluble coin ninuted Vmaterial in direct ad liesive attach'm'ent'to the surfaces ofsaid body.

A pyrotechnical device comprising: a body of'c'ombiistible detonating composition having its. entire surface covered" With av directly appliedmixture of insoluble comininut ed'mfaterial and an adhesive agent,

l. ii' 'pyrotechnical' device comprising a body'o'f combustible detonating composition, and] a surface: coating adhesively attached to said body, saidco-ating consisting ofa comparatively fine comminuted inert ma-terial,suclr'as'sand. V

.In testimony that- I claim the invention setfortli above I have hereunto set my hand thisllth' day of September, 1923. a Y 'MILTON ADLER.

' lVitnesses Y H TEORGE. D.v RICHARDS,

Dona WALZ. 

